Attorney-General: Service Prosecutions

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what occasions since 2000 the Attorney-General has been called on to examine the papers in cases of alleged military offences, indicating in each case the outcome of such examinations.

Lord Goldsmith: The Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) routinely consults the Attorney-General about serious cases.
	Those which result in prosecution are in the public domain. Where they arise from allegations of offences committed on military operations in Iraq, I have undertaken to inform Parliament. It is not the practice to disclose details of such consultations where no prosecution results.

Attorney-General: Superintendence

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the legal basis that provides the Attorney-General with superintendence over the Army Prosecuting Authority, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Revenue and Customs.

Lord Goldsmith: I have ministerial superintendence for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office and the three service prosecuting authorities. In the case of the CPS and the RCPO, the role is statutory; in the care of the service prosecuting authorities, it is non-statutory.

Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what circumstances they envisage that the requirements to consult under paragraph 4(1) of the Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order (S.I. 2005/2337) should be dispensed with under paragraph 4(2).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Article 4(1) of the delegation order places consultation requirements on the designated body, the Professional Oversight Board for Accountancy (the POBA), to consult in respect of regulations which it makes under the powers in the order. Article 4(2) provides that these requirements do not apply where the POBA considers that the delay involved in complying with them would be prejudicial to the public interest.
	However, it is expected that reliance on the provision in Article 4(2) of the order would rarely, if ever, occur. The requirements in respect of consultation are in line with those set out in the Cabinet Office Better Regulation Code of Practice on Consultation (publication ref: 270621/0805/D5), which also provides for circumstances when full consultation may not be appropriate.
	In addition, the Financial Reporting Council (of which the POBA is part) has committed to the Better Regulation Task Force principles that require regulators to be proportionate, targeted, consistent, transparent and accountable.

Crown Prosecution Service: Babar Ahmed

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Crown Prosecution Service has published, or intends to publish, its reasons for not prosecuting Mr Babar Ahmed in the United Kingdom for aiding and abetting terrorism; and whether they plan to divulge reasons to the relevant authorities in the United States if Mr Ahmed is extradited to that country.

Lord Goldsmith: In accordance with its usual practice the Crown Prosecution Service has not and does not intend to publish its reasons for not prosecuting Mr Babar Ahmed. The United States authorities are aware of those reasons.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent they have decided to implement the recommendations of the International Crisis Group's Congo Action Plan.

Baroness Amos: The International Crisis Group report includes recommendations on:
	Ensuring Free and Fair Elections
	The international community, including the UK, is fully focused on ensuring successful elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a vital first step towards a sustainable peace, effective and accountable government and long-term poverty reduction in the DRC. The UK is the largest bilateral donor to the electoral process, providing £22.2 million over 18 months. We have made clear to all parties in government the critical importance of keeping to the electoral timetable and ensuring that free and fair elections take place.
	Good Governance and Justice
	The International Committee Accompanying the Transition (CIAT—which includes a number of ambassadors, including from the UK, and the UN) has been putting increasing pressure on the Government of the DRC to tackle corruption. CIAT issued its most strongly worded communiqué yet to the DRC Government on this issue this week, and the Secretary of State for International Development has made an offer of further UK support to the army integration conditional upon tackling corruption in the army pay system. DfID supported an audit of the justice sector in the DRC last year, and will be supporting the implementation of the resulting action plan for long-term reform. We also plan to support a programme to rehabilitate the justice system in the east of the DRC, where some of the worst human rights abuses have been committed.
	An Integrated National Army and Police Force to Establish Security
	Integration of the army is essential for providing security to the people of the DRC and the region as a whole. The UK is funding two members of the EU Security Sector Reform Mission to the DRC (EUSEC), which is providing advice to the Congolese Government on army integration in the run-up to elections.
	In his recent visit to the DRC, the Secretary of State for International Development offered UK help to provide water, shelter and human rights training to the newly integrated brigades, but only on condition that the Government of the DRC feed their troops properly and accept and implement the recommendations of the EUSEC report on reforming the army pay system to help stamp out corruption.
	Disarmament, Demobilisation and Repatriation of the Forces Democratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR)
	The Congolese army, in conjunction with MONUC (the UN mission to DRC), is exerting military pressure on the FDLR to disrupt its operations in the Kivu provinces. We have encouraged MONUC to support the Congolese army in taking a robust stance against the FDLR but are clear that the solution to the problem requires political as well as military pressure.
	Fulfilment of MONUC's Mandate to Protect Civilians
	The protection of civilians is an integral part of MONUC's mandate. We would consider strengthening MONUC based on a revised concept of operations from the department of peacekeeping operations. We are aware that regional leaders are, like the International Crisis Group, recommending to the Security Council that MONUC be strengthened. The Security Council is considering this.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision they are making in their aid programme for the development of key performance indicators that reflect progress in reducing the number of street children in the cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Baroness Amos: There are very few reliable statistics available in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on which to base performance indicators. There has not been a census in the past 20 years and the latest social sector statistics data come from a survey undertaken in 2001 but cover only the third of the country under government control at the time.
	Improving the robustness of the data available on the DRC is an enormous task, and data and indicators relating to street children are one aspect of this. Although not currently doing specific work on performance indicators regarding street children, DfID has been the lead donor (providing both financial and technical assistance) in supporting a participatory poverty analysis in the DRC, which the Congolese Government are using to produce the DRC's first poverty reduction strategy. This included baseline qualitative and quantitative data on how the poor people of the DRC—men, women and children—see their lives and how they want them to change. It includes data on the lives of vulnerable children, including street children, and could be used in the future to measure progress in these areas.
	DIfD's programme in the DRC (£55 million in 2005–06) is currently focused on consolidating peace and basic security; re-establishing the rule of law; ensuring free and fair elections; infrastructure rehabilitation; promoting a responsible media sector; and emergency humanitarian assistance and other basic service delivery.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision they are making for financial and technical investment in human rights organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo; what is being done to monitor the effectiveness of the organisation; and what representation they are making to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo with regard to the plight of street children.

Baroness Amos: One of the key elements of DfID's programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is supporting the restoration of security and the rule of law. Through this, we are supporting the Belgian NGO RCN—Justice et Democratie to train justice sector workers in the DRC and undertake rights awareness campaigns. Next year, we plan to fund a large justice sector rehabilitation programme in the east of the DRC, to tackle the prevailing culture of impunity in a region that has suffered widespread human rights abuses. We are also supporting the peace-building work of CAFOD, Christian Aid, International Alert and the Life and Peace Institute in eastern DRC. These international organisations support local community dialogue and human rights groups in some of the most war-torn areas in the DRC. All DfID-funded projects are monitored regularly, including through field visits. The Foreign Office in the DRC also funds several local human rights organisations operating in the DRC under its small grants scheme.
	Under the UK's presidency, the European Union has been looking in the DRC at how to tackle the problem of street children, and particularly of those accused of sorcery (thought to make up around 60 per cent of Kinshasa's street children). In the DRC, the EU has been liaising with the Government on this issue and are developing recommendations for helping to tackle this problem in the DRC and internationally.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of (a) the number of fatalities in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; (b) the number of people displaced by the conflict; and (c) the number of children under arms.

Baroness Amos: Recent estimates made by the non-governmental organisation IRC (International Rescue Committee) suggest that the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused around 4 million extra deaths since it began in 1998. The Internationally Displaced Persons Unit in the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that of the 2.3 million people left displaced at the end of the major conflict in 2003, 1.68 million have been able to return, leaving 1.67 million still displaced.
	However, these numbers reflect overall trends and do not illustrate the increasing short-term displacement observed over the past two years. Save the Children has estimated that there remain tens of thousands of children under arms in the DRC. Fewer than 8,000 have demobilised since the end of the war under the various disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes in operation.

El Salvador and Guatemala: Bilateral Aid

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the extent of bilateral support given by the United Kingdom to the governments of (a) El Salvador; and (b) Guatemala in the overseas aid budget for each financial year since 2000–01; what is planned for the current financial year; and whether they have any plans to review those levels following Hurricane Stan.

Baroness Amos: UK bilateral assistance to the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala during the past 5 years was:
	
		
			  Total DfID bilateral programme (including humanitarian) sources Aid from other UK official sources Total* 
			 El Salvador
			 2000–01 1,820 4,445 6,265 
			 2001–02 431 4,141 4,572 
			 2002–03 338 10,146 10,484 
			 2003–04 107 1,245 1,352 
			 2004–05 75 0 75 
			 Guatemala
			 2000–01 319 30,332 30,651 
			 2001–02 420 0 420 
			 2002–03 289 0 289 
			 2003–04 237 0 237 
			 2004–05 196 0 196 
		
	
	* (Gross public expenditure)
	DfID provides development assistance to Guatemala and El Salvador through its regional plan for Latin America, UK contributions through multilateral institutions and through the funding of civil society organisations in Central America.
	Additional UK support to Guatemala and El Salvador following Hurricane Stan totalled £253,000. This support was provided through Plan International UK, £103,000 (70 per cent for Guatemala and 30 per cent for El Salvador) and through Care International UK, £100,000 for Guatemala, and £50,000 for El Salvador. There are currently no plans to review the levels of bilateral assistance.

EU: Turkish Accession

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 23 November (Official Report, col. 1618–19), whether it is the case that France and Austria will hold binding referenda on Turkey's eventual membership of the European Union; and, if so, whether they have made an assessment of the implications for Turkey's membership.

Lord Triesman: It is indeed the case that France and Austria have committed to hold binding referenda to approve Turkey's eventual accession to the European Union. The French and Austrian peoples will make their decisions based on the situation at the time. This is unlikely to be before another 10 years, by which stage the EU and Turkey, which will have to complete a fundamental transformation in preparation for accession, are both likely to look very different.

Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the interception of an illegal consignment of chicken shipped from China, when they began tracing meat supplied from Eurofreeze (Ireland) Limited to other companies.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency was notified by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARD) of suspected illicit activity relating to repackaging and re-labelling at a cold store in Northern Ireland operated by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd following DARD's visit to the cold store on 9 November.
	This led to the FSA launching an investigation on 11 November, which included examination of records from the company to attempt to trace product supplied by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd. to other companies.

Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the interception of an illegal consignment of chicken shipped from China, how many consignments of poultry meat supplied by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Limited have been traced; and what action has been taken.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency is leading an investigation into suspected illicit activity relating to repackaging and re-labelling including the application of illicit health marks, at a cold store in Northern Ireland operated by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd. Records from the company have been examined back to October 2004 and product supplied by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd has been traced down the supply chain. While the investigation is still continuing, to date none of the traced product has been found to contain genuine health marks.

Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the alleged use of fraudulent health marks on poultry supplied by Eurofreeze (Ireland) Limited, what steps they have taken to review procedures for verifying the authenticity of marks used.

Lord Warner: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency that it has, through its recently issued food law code of practice, instructed local food authorities to verify the authenticity of any health or identification marking at every inspection under the new European Union hygiene legislation, which comes into force on 1 January 2006. Similar arrangements apply in slaughterhouses and cutting plants where the Meat Hygiene Service is the enforcement authority.

Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have tested Eurofreeze products to ensure that they meet health standards; and, if so, what was the result.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency has examined the health marks and accompanying documentation relating to product found at the Eurofreeze cold store, following a visit to the premises on 9 November. A significant proportion of the product has proven to be satisfactory; the remainder has been seized and will be subjected to more detailed examination and assessment.

Export Subsidies

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will initiate bilateral talks with the United States Government on reciprocity equivalence in the relevant United States subsidy mechanisms, following the European Union commitment to abolish export subsidies on farm products.

Lord Bach: External trade issues are subject to European Community competence. The European Commission, acting under a mandate given by the Council, is negotiating for the Community in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in which the commitment to abolish EU export subsidies on farm products has been made.
	When making its offer to abolish these subsidies, the Commission made clear that it would be conditional upon action taken by others—including the US—to remove the trade-distorting elements of other forms of export competition, specifically of export credits, food aid and the operations of state trading enterprises. This condition effectively requires equivalence. We openly agree with the importance of achieving this parallel elimination of other forms of export subsidy and fully support the Commission in negotiating it.

Healthcare Commission: Enforcement Notices

Lord Stratford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many enforcement notices have been issued by the Healthcare Commission to private operators of psychiatric hospitals in each of the past three years.

Lord Warner: The chairman of the Healthcare Commission has confirmed that since it was set up in April 2004 it has issued enforcement notices to eight mental health establishments.

Hurricane Stan

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many ministerial meetings there have been since Hurricane Stan with representatives of (a) El Salvador; and (b) Guatemala to discuss assistance with reconstruction and recovery in those countries.

Baroness Amos: There have been no ministerial meetings with representatives of El Salvador and Guatemala to discuss reconstruction and recovery following Hurricane Stan.

Hurricane Stan

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the level of unplanned expenditure required by the governments of (a) El Salvador; and (b) Guatemala in reconstruction and recovery, following Hurricane Stan; and whether they will place a copy of that assessment in the Library of the House.

Baroness Amos: The following assessments were carried out by the United Nations and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)* to estimate the unplanned expenditure required for reconstruction and recovery in Guatemala and El Salvador as a result of damage and loss caused by Hurricane Stan:
	In El Salvador, expenditure to replace loss and damage from Hurricane Stan (complicated by an almost simultaneous eruption of the volcano Ilamatepec) is estimated to be about US $ 356 million (equivalent to 2.25 of gross domestic product (GDP)). This is mostly affecting the peasant agriculture sector and some small and medium-scale tourism industry, which will require re-activation through public sector investment. Expenditure to rebuild damage and losses to water and sanitation as well as transport systems will also be significant.
	(Source: UN/ECLAC*; 3 November 2005)
	In Guatemala, estimated expenditure to replace housing, roads and bridges, lost crops and animals, as well as destroyed capital of small-scale enterprises such as indigenous home based woven textiles, is approximately $976 million (equivalent to 3.4 per cent of 2004 GDP). Some of those impacts extend into 2006. This does not include the value of lost informal employment in small workshops and food production. Some employment in the short and medium term could be generated in reconstruction of infrastructure and the re-activation of small and medium scale economic activities.
	(Source: UN/ECLAC*; 8 November 2005)
	* These reports were produced in Spanish and are not translated into English.

Hurricane Stan

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much direct aid they have provided since Hurricane Stan to (a) El Salvador; and (b) Guatemala to assist with (i) food programmes and other relief for those whose crops or homes have been destroyed; and (ii) infrastructure repairs.

Baroness Amos: DfID provided a total of £253,000 of emergency relief to Guatemala and El Salvador after Hurricane Stan. This support was provided through Plan International UK, £103,000 (70 per cent for Guatemala and 30 per cent for El Salvador) and through Care International UK (£100,000 for Guatemala, and £50,000 for El Salvador).
	DfID also supports relief and reconstruction through its contributions to multilateral agencies. The European Commission Humanitarian Department (ECHO) provided 5.7 million euros (including 18 per cent DfID contributions) to support those affected by flooding and mudslides in Guatemala and El Salvador.
	The Government of Guatemala have requested that the World Bank focus part of its loan to the Ministry of Health to help rebuild seven local hospitals and clinics in the affected areas. Other multilateral agencies are considering how their programmes in Guatemala and El Salvador might support reconstruction efforts.

Iraq: Insurgent Groups

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is now their policy that, as stated by General Ricky Lynch, the official spokesman for the multinational force in Iraq, the coalition in Iraq will in due course negotiate with insurgent groups.

Lord Triesman: Iraq and its allies, including the UK, believe that an inclusive political process is critical for Iraq's future prosperity. However, we do not negotiate with groups that use terrorism as a tool to achieve their aims. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said on 27 June 2005, outreach and discussion,
	"is just a sensible part of trying to make sure that you are bringing as many people into the democratic process as possible".
	I refer the noble Lord to the transcript of the Prime Minister's press conference with the Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari on 27 June 2005 at www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7745.asp.

Israel: International Committee of the Red Cross

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the government of Israel concerning access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Palestinians held in custody in Israel and the West Bank.

Lord Triesman: We have had recent discussions with the Israeli prison service. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will continue to have access to Israeli prisons and detention centres in Israel and the West Bank. The ICRC monitors conditions in Israeli prisons on a regular basis. We continue to follow this situation closely.

Israel: Marwan Barghouti

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making to the Israeli Government about the imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti in light of his selection as a candidate for the Palestinian Parliament.

Lord Triesman: Marwan Barghouti was convicted by the Israeli courts and remains in gaol. Any question of his release is a matter for the Israeli courts.

Israel: West Bank

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Israeli Government regarding unilateral moves in the West Bank.

Lord Triesman: We continually discuss with the Government of Israel steps Israel could take to advance the peace process. We believe that the road map is the best way to achieve a lasting and just settlement of two viable states living side by side in peace and security.

Jamaica: Sugar

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are supporting, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to compensate Jamaica for its loss of income arising from the recent reform of the European Union sugar regime.

Lord Triesman: The agreement reached at the 24 November Agriculture Council to reform the EU sugar regime will bring it into line with other already reformed CAP sectors and will benefit many developing countries. But we recognise the negative impacts that the EU reforms will have on some African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers, including Jamaica, with preferential access to the EU market.
	As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said in his speech at Guildhall on 14 November (www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8524.asp), we recognise the problem of preference erosion. This does not argue for maintaining the current system, but it does argue for helping the countries affected through the transition. The EU will provide transitional assistance to help ACP producers improve their efficiency in the sugar sector where feasible or diversify into more profitable sectors. Ensuring that credible and timely transitional assistance is in place remains a priority for the UK.
	We have supported the Commission's proposal of €40 million in transitional assistance for ACP producers in the first year (2006). We have worked hard to secure this amount in the negotiations on the 2006 EU budget, which we hope will formally be agreed by the European Parliament when it meets in a plenary session in mid-December. Further funding will be available over the following seven years, and the UK will fight to ensure it is adequate and timely.
	The Department for International Development (DfID) is collaborating with the World Bank to assess the implications of the EU reforms for the rural economy as a whole. DfID is also supporting the Planning Institute of Jamaica to carry out a study on the social impact of the erosion of sugar preferences and how best to help those adversely affected by the changes.

Jamaica: Sugar

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimates they have made of the consequences which the reform of the European Union sugar regime will have on the Jamaican economy.

Lord Triesman: We recognise the negative impacts that the reforms to the EU sugar regime agreed at the 24 November Agriculture Council will have on some African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers—including Jamaica—with preferential access to the EU market. However, we welcome the overall reforms, particularly the benefits they will bring to many developing countries. Furthermore, the reforms will see a smaller price cut and a longer adjustment period than originally proposed. This will give the ACP a better opportunity to adapt to the reforms.
	The EU will provide transitional assistance to help ACP producers improve their efficiency in the sugar sector where feasible or diversify into more profitable sectors. Ensuring that credible and timely transitional assistance is in place remains a priority for the UK.
	In September 2003, the Department for International Development (DfID) commissioned consultants LMC International Ltd (LMC) to produce an independent report on the impact that EU sugar reform would have by 2015 on the ACP countries that are party to the sugar protocol. This work was updated in June 2005, after the Commission put forward its proposals but before agreement was reached on the shape of the reforms. It therefore assumes a 39 per cent price cut rather than the actual 36 per cent.
	The sugar industry in Jamaica currently contributes about 1 per cent to GDP (mainly through exports to the EU) and it employs around 30,000 workers (2.5 per cent of the workforce). On the basis of the limited information available to it, the LMC study forecasts that the sugar industry in Jamaica was likely to be unsustainable after the EU reforms. This conclusion was contested by the Government of Jamaica, who have since clearly stated that there will be a viable sugar industry after transition.
	A more recent assessment by European Commission funded consultants (who again assumed a 39 per cent price cut) concluded that this would reduce the value of sugar export revenues from 6.9 per cent of total exports to 4.9 per cent and a reduction of 0.8 per cent of GDP over four years. The consultants estimate redundancy costs of €10.5 million, assuming that the government decide to close two of the state-owned mills.
	A recent International Monetary Fund working paper estimated that a similar reduction in preferences would result in the loss of 1.4 per cent of exports and a 0.6 per cent reduction in GDP for Jamaica. But these estimates should be viewed with caution, as they are based on a number of strong assumptions.
	Currently, DfID is collaborating with the World Bank to assess the implications of the EU reforms for the rural economy as a whole. We are also supporting the Planning Institute of Jamaica to carry out a study on the social impact of the erosion of sugar preferences and how best to help those affected adversely by the changes.

Mortality Rates

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many deaths there were in each of the following categories in the last year for which figures are available: (a) age 60; (b) age 61; (c) age 62; (d) age 63; (e) age 64; (f) age 65; (g) age 66; (h) age 67; (i) age 68; (j) age 69; and (k) age 70.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information on the number of deaths at ages 60–70 in the UK in 2004 is presented in the following table.
	
		
			 Age at death Males Females Total 
			 60 3,302 2,154 5,456 
			 61 3,495 2,168 5,663 
			 62 3,673 2,228 5,901 
			 63 3,441 2,310 5,751 
			 64 4,086 2,600 6,686 
			 65 4,445 2,802 7,247 
			 66 4,846 3,156 8,002 
			 67 5,075 3,351 8,424 
			 68 5,338 3,731 9,069 
			 69 5,767 3,898 9,665 
			 70 6,034 4,102 10,136 
			 Total 49,500 32,500 82,000 
		
	
	Source: Office for National Statistics
	Note: Figures for England and Wales are based on deaths occurring in 2004, while figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are based on deaths registered in 2004.

Regional Development Agencies: Food Programmes

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What outcomes they expect from the work of the English regional development agencies on the food and drink sectors; whether the outcomes are different for each region; and, if so, how; and
	How they monitor the outcomes achieved from the work carried out by each English regional development agency on the food and drink sectors against the targets set; whether the assessment provides value for money; and whether the assessment is made publicly available; and
	Whether the model of delivery for the work of each English regional development agency varies region by region; if so, in what way; and what plans they have for the future delivery of food and drink work regionally; and
	How co-ordination is achieved between the food programmes promoted by the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at regional level.

Lord Bach: Regional development agencies in England are tasked to address the priorities identified in the regional economic strategies for their regions and to contribute to the delivery of the Government's PSA targets on regional economic performance, sustainable development and productivity/rural productivity, and through these to the delivery of a range of other PSA targets.
	The RDAs' role in contributing to delivery of these PSA targets and regional priorities will vary, reflecting the diversity of the regions. For this reason, the priority attached to particular sectors, such, as food and drink, will also differ, and there are therefore no national targets for specific sectors.
	Guidance is provided to RDAs on the framework within which they are expected to operate; for example, to ensure the consultation and participation of regional and local stakeholders. However, the Government recognise that no two regions are the same and have therefore not prescribed one model for delivery.
	The Government have developed new performance monitoring and reporting arrangements to reflect this new method of tasking the RDAs. This is designed to establish progress against both outputs and RDA strategic added value activities, agreed with government through individual corporate plans. Progress will be reported on a six-monthly basis and reports made public through each RDA website. In addition a second strand of the performance monitoring and reporting arrangements will be a biennial independent performance assessment of each RDA, carried out by the. National Audit Office.
	RDAs contribute to delivery of Defra's quality regional food strategy through their regional programmes of support for the quality regional food sector. This is managed through the department's Cross-Cutting Group on quality regional food, made up of representatives from Defra, the RDAs, Food from Britain, the Countryside Agency and the Food Standards Agency. The purpose of the Cross-Cutting Group is to agree Defra's national programme and the RDAs' regional programmes of support for the quality regional food sector and to monitor and co-ordinate delivery of those programmes to ensure that there is no overlap or double-funding of activities and to share best practice. Targets are based on the nature of the activity; for some it relates to the numbers of producers taking part in an activity and for others it relates to the amount of additional income generated from participation in a particular activity. An independent economic review of the quality regional food strategy, carried out by ADAS earlier this year, showed that government support for the sector has been effective and that those firms that have benefited from the strategy have performed better than non-beneficiaries. A copy of the evaluation is at www.statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/env.asp.
	Further detailed information on the RDAs' current and future delivery in the food and drink sector will be made available in the House Llibrary.

Sexual Health Campaign

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to launch the sexual health campaign; and what form it will take.

Lord Warner: Our current plans are to aim to launch the new sexual health campaign around spring 2006. It will take the form of a high profile, integrated media campaign.

Sexual Health Campaign

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with national television channels regarding the sexual health campaign.

Lord Warner: We are discussing the new sexual health campaign with a number of media stakeholders including national television channels with regard to the advertising scheduling and the potential to include key messages within relevant programming.

Sharing Power in Europe Conference

Lord Bowness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conclusions were reached following the conference held on 17 November at the Hague under the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union and the Government of the Netherlands which aimed to find ways to strengthen the engagement of national parliaments at an early stage, so that local and national sensitivities are taken into account and the case for European action is made and not just assumed.

Lord Triesman: At the Sharing Power in Europe conference in the Hague on 17 November, there was broad consensus that member state parliaments should play a stronger role in ensuring the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity in order to achieve the right balance between action at regional, national and EU levels, and to help connect citizens with European decision-making. A presidency note on the conference is being issued and the Dutch Clingendael Institute will also publish a summary pamphlet. A copy of the note will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The incoming Austrian presidency is organising a follow-up conference in St Poelten on 17 and 18 April 2006.

Timber

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' proposed sample assessment of departmental timber procurement is sufficient, bearing in mind the present levels of data.

Lord Bach: The Government's intention is to assess whether the present levels of data being reported are sufficient to give a credible indication of the Government's performance on implementing their timber procurement policy. A sample of departments is considered sufficient to make such an assessment.

Timber

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs plans a sample assessment rather than a full report of timber procurement, given that in the 2002 Framework for Sustainable Development the department stated that "a cross government report cannot substitute for comprehensive performance reporting by individual departments".

Lord Bach: Individual departments are required to report annually on their timber purchases as part of Sustainable Development in Government Reports. Some observers have suggested that the data being reported are not adequate to effectively measure the Government's performance on implementing their timber procurement policy. In considering their response to these observations the Government want to establish how accurate the data being reported are, what value they have, what other options should be considered and what the costs and benefits would be. The sample assessment will indicate how accurate the currently reported data are and what is involved in collecting it. It is considered unnecessary to produce a costly and time-consuming report on all departments to obtain this information.

Trade in Goods and Services

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any United Kingdom jobs have been lost as a result of the increase in the United Kingdom's deficit on its trade in goods and services with the European Union between 2000 and 2004; and, if so, how many.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The trade in goods and services deficit with the EU widened between 2000 and 2004, mainly due to stronger growth in imports than exports, rather than a fall in the value of exports. Indeed, exports to the EU increased by £6.3 billion between 2000 and 2004, which support domestic employment. In a dynamic economy such as the UK's, the employment structure continually changes, and it is difficult to ascertain specific trends. However, between 2000 and 2004, employment in the UK increased by 1 million jobs.